In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by DALI. DALI Fazon Sat is a Surround speaker whereas the Opticon 1 MK2 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Fazon Sat and DALI Opticon 1 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Fazon Sat | DALI Opticon 1 II |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Wood fibre | 4.75" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 86-25k Hz | 62-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-120 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 4.50kg / 9.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.12" x 5.47" x 5.28"
257 x 139 x 134 mm | 10" x 6" x 9-1/4"
254.0 x 153.0 x 235.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Fazon Sat and Opticon 1 MK2 are 2-way speakers.
DALI Fazon SatDALI Opticon 1 II
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
DALI Fazon Sat |
DALI Opticon 1 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 4.75-inch
|
Fazon Sat features a 1.1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Wood fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800Hz. On the other hand, the Opticon 1 MK2 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.75" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz.
Frequency Response
Fazon Sat has a frequency range of 86-25k Hz whereas Opticon 1 MK2 has a frequency range of 62-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 62Hz, the Opticon 1 MK2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Fazon Sat's min frequency of 86Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Surround class in our database.
Low Frequency
Surround Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Fazon Sat is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Opticon 1 MK2 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Opticon 1 MK2 can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 86 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Surround Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Fazon Sat can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Opticon 1 MK2 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Fazon Sat.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Fazon Sat features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Opticon 1 MK2 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Opticon 1 II's Post terminals
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare DALI Fazon Sat's and DALI Opticon 1 II's external dimensions. DALI Fazon Sat has external dimensions of 257 x 139 x 134 mm () whereas DALI Opticon 1 II has external dimensions of 254.0 x 153.0 x 235.0mm (10 x 6 x 9-1/4inch).
DALI Fazon Sat is 14mm narrower and 101mm less deeper than DALI Opticon 1 II but it is also 3mm taller.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
DALI Opticon 1 II needs about 93% more floor or shelf area. DALI Opticon 1 II is 101mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the DALI Fazon Sat is approximately 186.3cm2 / 28.9inch2 and base area of the DALI Opticon 1 II is approximately 359.6cm2 / 55.7inch2. The Fazon Sat requires 48% less surface area than the Opticon 1 MK2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of DALI Opticon 1 II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon 1 MK2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- Quick Start Guide
- Congratulations Card